GRAND RAPIDS, Mich., Nov. 1, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- In an effort to raise awareness to the plight of older children in foster care waiting for adoption, Bethany Christian Services is launching 30 Families for 30 Kids, a Facebook campaign highlighting 30 children waiting to be united with a forever family. The campaign launches November 1 on the leading family preservation and adoption agency's Facebook page – www.Facebook.com/BethanyFans – to coincide with National Adoption Month.

Over the last decade, the number of children in foster care across the U.S. has decreased sharply – from approximately 523,000 in 2002 to just over 400,000 according to the most recent report provided by the Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS). While the continued decrease in foster care children certainly is a positive development, unfortunately, the number of older children who aged out of the foster care system without ties to their own parents or with any other home was still high – 26,286. In the U.S., children age out of foster care at 18 years old.

"Foster care is a critical temporary solution for children in need of a loving family who will walk with them during a time of crisis and welcome them unconditionally into their home," said Bill Blacquiere, president of Bethany Christian Services. "However, the ultimate aim of foster care is to reunite children with their biological family or finding an adoptive family for those whom reunification is not an option."

Each day in November, Bethany will highlight on its Facebook page an older child in foster care waiting to be adopted in hopes of attracting not only a family for that child, but also families for the hundreds of thousands of children currently in the U.S. foster care system.

"Statistics show that living in foster care long-term can have a negative and lasting impact on children," Blacquiere continued. "More than 40% of foster children end up abusing drugs and alcohol, 40% turn to crime, and up to 10% commit suicide. Our hope is that the 30 Families for 30 Kids campaign will have a lasting impact on securing loving homes for the vulnerable children in the foster care system."

Families interested in adopting an older child featured in Bethany's 30 Families for 30 Kids campaign can contact Bethany at 1-800-Bethany or info@bethany.org. Only families who have a studied and approved adoptive family assessment or families who have an active foster care license can be considered for adoption through Bethany.